Introduction
The number of overweight people in Germany and in industrialized countries in general is constantly increasing. Not only the number of overweight people is increasing, but also the level of obesity. One speaks of overweight from a body mass index (BMI) of over 25, and from a BMI of over 30 one speaks of so-called obesity. The BMI is calculated on the basis of body weight in kilograms divided by body length in metres squared.
Physical consequences
The consequences of overweight are unfortunately not well enough known in society. Every year thousands of people die from the consequences of overweight. Studies prove that life expectancy is clearly shortened in people with relevant overweight.
People with a BMI of 35, for example, have an increased risk of mortality by a factor of 2.5 compared to people of normal weight. For 40-year-old overweight people, life expectancy is reduced by three to six years compared to slim people. In the case of very severe obesity, life expectancy can even be reduced by up to 20 years.
Of course, not every kilo too much has such devastating effects that it leads to a range of secondary diseases. According to studies, a few kilos too much on the hips is even better for the body than underweight, but it should not exceed a certain level. Greater overweight usually also means less physical resilience.
Exhaustion, shortness of breath and sweating occur more quickly. This of course involves a vicious circle, since the resulting lack of exercise does not exactly counteract the overweight. Overweight people have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and ultimately also of dying from them.
By the higher body weight the heart must work more around the entire body with sufficient blood to supply. In the long run, the increased load on the heart usually results in cardiac insufficiency, in which the heart is no longer able to supply the body with blood efficiently. Due to the increased fat content of the affected persons, they usually also suffer from arteriosclerosis, in which calcification of vessels occurs, which constricts their diameter, so that the body can be supplied with blood more poorly.
Arteriosclerosis is caused, among other things, by an increased fat content in the blood, mainly because cholesterol levels rise. The so-called bad cholesterol, the LDL cholesterol, is then deposited in the vessel walls. The increased cholesterol level also leads to an increased occurrence of gallstones, which can be very unpleasant under certain circumstances and increase the risk of gall bladder cancer.
An almost inevitable disease in overweight people is diabetes mellitus type 2. Due to the increased supply of carbohydrates and sugar, the pancreas produces a high amount of insulin, which is said to naturally lower the sugar level. Due to the constantly increased insulin level, the body eventually develops resistance to the hormone.
This means that the cells no longer react to the hormone. This state is reached much earlier in overweight people than in normal weight people. Most overweight people also suffer from high blood pressure, which also stresses and attacks the cardiovascular system.
This should definitely be lowered by medication and above all by lifestyle changes. In overweight people, more water and salts remain in the body, so that there is an increased volume of fluid in the blood vessels, which causes high blood pressure. High blood pressure can have a lasting harmful effect on the eyes and kidneys.
If all the diseases already mentioned, i.e. the sugar disease, the fat metabolism disorder and high blood pressure, occur together with obesity, this is called metabolic syndrome. All these illnesses contribute also to the emergence of the Arteriosklerose already addressed. The risk for a heart attack, as well as a stroke is clearly increased.
By a usually very fat-rich nutrition also a fat liver develops in most cases. Fatty liver promotes other diseases of the liver, such as inflammation. Sometimes fatty liver can also develop into cirrhosis of the liver, which is associated with an increased risk of cancer and in which the liver‘s work is restricted.
Likewise, the concentration of uric acid is often increased due to the malnutrition of obese people, so that attacks of gout can occur. A so-called sleep apnoea syndrome also occurs with above-average frequency in overweight people.These are short interruptions of breathing during sleep. In most cases, those affected do not notice this themselves.
Often the partner notices it, because for example snoring stops for a short time. The oxygen content of the blood decreases due to the breathing stops. The breathing stops put the body under stress, so that blood pressure, pulse and blood sugar rise.
Those affected by sleep apnoea syndrome are often tired during the day because sleep is not restful. The sleep apnoea syndrome occurs more frequently with over-weighty people, because there are more fat pads in the throat area, which can close the throat area when inhaling. Blood clotting is also influenced by obesity.
In overweight people, blood clotting is increased, which increases the risk of thrombosis and the development of pulmonary embolism. These are small blood clots that block blood vessels. This is particularly dangerous if, as in pulmonary embolism, a blood clot blocks a vessel in the lung.
The risk of certain types of cancer is also increased. These include breast cancer and cervical cancer in women. One of the reasons for this is the altered hormone levels in overweight women.
But the risk of colon cancer and gallbladder cancer is also increased in both men and women. Of course, the increased body weight also puts more strain on the joints, so that wear and tear, i.e. arthrosis, occurs more quickly. Frequently, the increased stress on the joints is attempted to be compensated for by malpositioning of the legs/feet and incorrect posture of the body, so that the pain of arthrosis occurs later.
The knee, hip and ankle joints, as well as the spine, are particularly affected. Almost all of the consequences listed above can be reduced by weight loss or the severity of the disease can be minimized. Life expectancy also increases again after successful weight loss.
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